peacefuloptimist, I actually found it much easier when the DC were little. Because it meant that I didn’t have a school timetable to adhere to and that if I arranged things for them to play with throughout the day and though about how to fill up their time well, I wasn’t dealing with cranky kids.
I don’t believe in having to spend a large portion of the day playing with kids to be a good parent. It’s more about spending time with them rather than having to always entertain them. I spend time with them by talking to older DC as I am doing the housework. I always cook with at least one of the DC sitting on a stool in the kitchen, talking, listening. Sometimes, it’s a half an hour of boring football talk where I just pretend to listen. I also regularly iron with the DC around me. I usually teach them something during that time or we have a discussion on something or I ask them to write something. It means I’m doing two things at once.
Before Ramadan I usually buy a new toy. Something that will keep them occupied with playing amongst themselves. Last year it was a set of new cars and a car rug- the boys can spend hours on that. This year it’s a new box of lego. A few years ago, it was some pop or tents.
Also, I find that reciting Quran with younger children around me is not too difficult. It’s easy to breastfeed or bob a child up and down in your lap whilst reciting Quran. If not, recite your tasbeehat then.
RussinaBlu that was me posting about the samosas and other prep. I do work, not full time but but not part time either. I work three mornings from 9:30-2:00 and three evenings from 4:30-7:00pm. Plus because of the nature of my work, I bring a lot of marking, planning and other managerial work home too. In addition to that I have my lesson prep which takes a few hours each day but I am blessed, in that I teach Islamic sciences and therefore I feel my time is well spent.
However, I don’t work in Ramadan. All the food prep and household prep I do is before Ramadan though whilst I am still working. So I do come home and tackle a pot of pie fillings and pastries. I make a plan of what to do each day and on the days when I’m making samosas for example, we’ll have leftovers from the night before so the workload is balanced. I wake up early and sleep early so I don’t tire myself too much and I also try to get an afternoon lie down in with the intention of a sunnah qayloolah as it helps to keep me going for the rest of the evening. I’m also a firm believer in the power of Tasbeeh Fatema. When she asked the Messenger of Allah(PBUH) for a servant to help with her household tasks, he insted gave her something better to help her with the housework and that was 33 x subhanallah, 33 x Alhamdulillah and 34 x allahuakbar. It makes all the difference to your day.
I would say that the best thing to do is not to plan anything elaborate or too taxing. But if you just plan 12 meals to freeze that can be taken out and popped into the oven, it means that you only have to cook for 2 weekdays during Ramadan plus the weekend. Even that makes a lot of difference when you are tired after a long days work. Then you can use the time after coming home to first of all take a nap, then wake up and spend a few hours reciting Quran before iftar, inshallah.